MERTHYR Tydfil are today celebrating the 20th anniversary of a Welsh Cup success which sparked a massive upsurge in fortunes.

The Martyrs won the 100th Welsh Cup final on May 15, 1987, beating Newport County 1-0 thanks to a Chris Baird penalty.

That centenary victory was just the start for a Merthyr Tydfil team rated the club’s best for 30 years.

They won the Beazer League Midlands Division a year later and then lifted the Premier Division title.

That earned promotion to the Conference where Merthyr Tydfil finished fourth – the highest they achieved in the club’s history.

“That team who won the Welsh Cup were outstanding, there was quality in every position,” said Merthyr Tydfil FC historian David Watkins.

“From Gary Wager in goal, the best ‘keeper in non-League football at the time, through David Tong who played for Blackpool and Cardiff City to number 11.

“It was such a well balanced team. And it was virtually that cup winning side who went on to earn league successes.

“One or two were added along the way, but it was basically the same line-up.”

In 1987, Merthyr Tydfil were pottering along in the Beazer Midlands Division and manager Lyn Jones was bringing together solid local talent and mixing it with experienced ex-professionals.

The local lads included life-long Martyrs’ fan Chris Holvey and youngster Kevin Rogers and they were mixed with ex-pros such as Tong from Cardiff City and former England international Bob Latchford. It proved an irresistible mix.

The year started slowly with steady results, but it was the Welsh Cup that proved the catalyst to all the following triumphs.

After good progress in the early rounds a two legged semi-final win against Bangor City saw the Martyrs reach the final, where they faced Football League club Newport County at Ninian Park.

The first game, played on a Sunday, finished 2-2, goals from Latchford and Dai Webley earning a draw for the Martyrs.

The replay three days later was settled by a single goal scored from the penalty spot by Baird.

Martyrs fan John Hughes recalled Merthyr’s Welsh Cup success in the Merthyr Express, saying: “Merthyr fans outnumbered the opposition by about four to one.

“The official attendance was 7,100. And you should have heard that Merthyr contingent. They sang; they chanted; they taunted a little bit; but, in general, they were having a ball.

“And when the teams came out you should have heard them.

“The players reciprocated and trainer Frankie Hagerty was as happy as anybody.

“Merthyr supporters made their way back to Strikers Club after the first game, which ended 2-2, while the official Merthyr party, players, directors and administrative staff, went to Hoover Ltd in Pentrebach where the company had laid on a celebratory meal for them.

“After that Hoover function the party moved on to Strikers. There were 500 supporters waiting there.

“Manager Lyn Jones was carried shoulder high into the club.

“The approach to the replay on the Thursday was similar.

“Travelling down Wembley Way sorry, Sloper Road outside Ninian Park, it looked as if there would be an even bigger attendance.

“But, surprisingly, there was 1,090 less. As the game progressed the fervour became much stronger and the familiar ‘modern’ vocal strains turned to ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’.